She growled under her breath and followed them inside. "These are werebeasts. They'll do absolutely anything to get back at us shapeshifters."

The snake man finally lets go of Azrail's leash. "Stay." He orders, and Azrail sinks to his knees in front of the fire before curling up and trying to block out the world.
Zach and you were released, but were still being watched by a few were beasts. Zach immediately heads to Azrail's side. "Hey buddy-"
"Go away!" Azrail screams, hitting Zach. Zach absorbs the blow before backing up.
"I'm sorry." Zach tries.
"No you're not." Azrail sniffles.

"Let me. I deal with disgruntled kids all day." Selene slowly walks towards Azrail. "It's okay. Everything will be okay."

Azrail peeks at you from above his arms. He doesn't say anything for a moment, he just looks at you, eyes red from crying. "You promised..." He whispers.

She reached her hand out. "I tried to keep you safe. I tried to put myself in harm's way and save you and Zach. I couldn't reach you whe you tripped, but I tried. Sometimes all we can do is try." She tried to be soothing for Azrail.

Azrail sniffles again, brushing his hand under his runny nose. "The werebeasts don't try to be nice." He mutters before scooting closer towards you.

"No, no they don't." She hugged Azrail. She smiled for him. "See, Zach? I have this under control." "Do you feel better now?"

Azrail nods slowly before noticing that one of the guards was looking at him in a predatory way. He tries to disappear in your arms, turning into a small fuzzy red panda. One of the guard speaks, "So is the little shapeshifter your child or something? I didn't think a red panda could result from a wolf and a dragon."
Zach shakes is head, "No, not our blood child."
"Okay, then you don't mind if we eat the small cub?" The were beast asks, eyes narrowing in a haughty way. Azrail trembles in your arms.

She glared at the werebeast. "Don't you come any closer." She hugged Azrail close to her body. "We care about him, and I won't let you eat him."

"How far would you go in order to protect him?" The same one asks, turning into a complete lion, eyes narrowed and teeth bared.
Some of the other guarding werebeasts didn't seem to be paying much attention to you, but others were egging the one werebeast on.
"You'd have to get through me first." Zach growls, stepping between you and the werelion. The werelion smiles, liking the challenge.
" Okay... If you say so. " the lion pounces on Zach, claws digging into his flesh. The lion seems to go crazy at the smell of blood, trying to do anything to get more. It looks up, muzzle dripping with blood.
Azrail had squirmed out of your grip and was angrily chatting at the lion. The lion towers above him, and only then did Azrail see where he went wrong. As he tries to get away, the lion pins him with a paw. The lion chuckles, lowering its face to be even with Azrail's.
"I'm going to eat you." The lion says, licking Azrail's wound. Azrail is unsure on how to react.